PRACTICAL IMPORT NOTES

Shopify CSV column mapping, explained

Map what each supplier column means, not just what its heading resembles. This short checklist helps avoid expensive mistakes.

1. Title is not a SKU

Map a readable product name to Title and the exact stock identifier to Variant SKU. Preserve leading zeros and punctuation in identifiers.

2. Use the selling price

Map the retail selling price to Variant Price. Do not automatically strip currency symbols or swap commas and dots; confirm the source convention first.

3. Images need a usable URL

A local filename or embedded workbook image is not an Image Src URL. The pilot accepts public HTTPS image URLs and does not host supplier images.

4. Use a sample

Compare one complete product and all its variants in the source and output. Confirm grouping before repeating the process across the file.

5. Record a mapping decision for every useful column

A practical mapping record has four parts: source heading, business meaning, target heading and any approved transformation. Mark unused columns explicitly instead of silently dropping information. For example, a supplier’s cost should not become the customer-facing price just because the retail-price field is empty.

6. Distinguish products, variants and catalogue notes

A shared parent reference describes a product group. A SKU identifies a particular stock item. A supplier comment may describe purchasing conditions and have no place in the public product description. Keep these concepts separate and review a complete product group before applying the mapping to the rest of the catalogue.

7. Check the current headings in your own export

Shopify’s current product export and an older template can use different header labels. Use the current official field guide to compare them; do not mix several templates by eye. RowReady’s checks do not cover every possible Shopify column, market or custom field. A store-specific export is useful evidence, but remove confidential material before sharing it.

8. Compare values after saving

Saving to CSV can alter quoting, encoding or number formatting through spreadsheet settings. Reopen the exported file with identifier columns treated as text, compare the first and last records and inspect a product with several variants. Keep a count of source and output rows and explain any intentional difference before importing.

Check the current Shopify product CSV documentation for the full supported format.

Continue with your import

Reviewed 5 October 2026. By RowReady, an independent catalogue preparation service.